Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Audible vs Epic
Where Audible and Epic differ
| Compare |  Audible |  Epic |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | CA$8.99 | $9.99 |
| Price from | CA$8.99 | $4.99 |
| Free trial length | 30 daysHigher | 7 days |
| Access model | Credits | Unlimited |
| Titles in the catalogue | Not confirmed | 40,000 |
| Catalogue languages | Not confirmed | English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Gaelic |
| Keep titles after cancelling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Family profiles | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Markets | CA | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Offline use (Yes).
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Key differences
- Audible scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- Free trial length is higher at Audible: 30 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Audible offers Help centre, Phone.
- Support channels: only Epic offers Email.
- Content types: only Audible offers Podcasts.
- Content types: only Epic offers Ebooks.
Our verdict on each
Audible
Audible suits Canadian listeners who will work through a set number of credits, and the free trial of 30 days is long enough to finish a book before deciding. The plan costs CAD 8.99 a month, and anything you have already claimed stays in your library afterwards.
Epic
Epic suits households that want children's audiobooks and ebooks in a single family subscription rather than a single-reader plan. The monthly plan runs at $9.99 against $19.99 for Readability, and a free trial of 7 days lets a family test it before paying.
Score breakdown
| Area | Audible | Epic |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7HigherMonthly rate of CAD 8.99 and starting price of CAD 8.99 read the same, below Readability at $19.99 and Reading Eggs at £6.99. | 9.6$9.99 monthly with entry at $4.99 ranks 5 of 22, a stronger cost showing than most of the field. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherFree trial of 30 days, titles kept after cancelling, and offline playback on a credits model. | 8.7unlimited access, family profiles, offline downloads and a 7 day trial sit on top of 40,000 titles. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Audible | Epic |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Audible | Epic |
|---|---|---|
| Audiobook, ebook and book-summary apps | 1 of 24 | 7 of 24 |
Also worth a look
BookBeat has free trial length at 60 days, against 30 days for Audible and 7 days for Epic.
BookBeat reviewWhat we checked
Audible
- audible.ca: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- audible.com: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Epic
- apps.apple.com: 6 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- play.google.com: 4 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- getepic.com: 2 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Audible | Epic |
|---|---|---|
| Content types | Audiobooks, Podcasts | Audiobooks, Ebooks |
| Legal entity | Audible, Inc. | Epic Creations, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Support channels | Help centre, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Audible | Epic | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 30 daysat the median | 7 daysbelow the median | 30 days |
| Titles in the catalogue | Not confirmed | 40,000below the median | 240,000 |
Median across 19 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Audible
Pros
- The free trial runs 30 days, longer than the usual window across the brands compared, so a full title can be finished before deciding.
- Titles you have already claimed stay in your library if you cancel, so purchases survive a lapse in the membership.
- Offline playback is included, which covers commutes, flights and patchy signal.
Cons
- Access runs on credits rather than unlimited listening, so playback stops once the credits are used.
- Support runs on help centre and phone only, and live chat is not among the channels.
- The plan is sold in Canada, so members in other countries need a separate regional plan.
Epic
Pros
- Access is unlimited and family profiles give each reader a separate space inside the same subscription.
- Offline downloads are supported, so a child's saved titles travel on a device without a connection.
- The monthly plan at $9.99 sits well below Readability at $19.99 while still covering audiobooks and ebooks.
Cons
- Support runs on email only, so a billing question waits on a written reply.
- At 40,000 titles the catalogue sits below the 240,000 median in this category, so adults hunting general fiction will find it narrow.
- The trial of 7 days ranks 12 of 16 on trial length, a shorter window than most rivals.
Who each suits
Audible
Who it suits
- Listeners in CA who will spend credits on chosen titles each month rather than browse freely.
- Commuters and travellers, since offline playback is included.
- Readers comparing monthly rates, with the Audible plan at CAD 8.99 against Readability at $19.99.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone outside CA, who would need a separate regional plan.
- Bargain hunters, since AfriKDP lists $3 a month against the Audible plan at CAD 8.99.
- Listeners who want unlimited access, since the Audible plan runs on credits.
Epic
Who it suits
- Parents who want a single payment covering several children's profiles under family profiles.
- Households that read on trips and want saved titles available through offline downloads.
- Readers who want audiobooks and ebooks in a single catalogue, both named in audiobooks and ebooks.
Who should look elsewhere
- AfriKDP, at $3 monthly, is the cheaper pick for a reader who wants the lowest monthly figure and has no use for family profiles.
- Readability, at $19.99 monthly, is the alternative for anyone who wants to put a larger monthly sum into reading than Epic's $9.99.
- Audible, at CAD 8.99 monthly, suits a single reader budgeting in a different currency and paying only for their own listening.
Current offers
Audible
Current offer
Free trial
Try one month free then $8.99 per month: 30 days free
New customers only. $8.99/month plus tax after 30 days. Cancel anytime. Quebec residents not eligible for trial memberships.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Audible | Epic |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Audible
What does the Audible plan cost a month?+
The Audible plan is listed at CAD 8.99 a month, and the Audible plan's starting price is CAD 8.99. Both figures read the same, so the rate met when you join is the rate that continues while the membership runs. Prices are set in Canadian dollars, which is worth remembering when comparing against services quoted in other currencies.
Does the price change after the free trial ends?+
No lower entry rate is listed: the Audible plan's monthly price of CAD 8.99 and its starting price of CAD 8.99 are the same figure, so the free trial of 30 days is the only discount on record. Once it ends the membership continues at the standard monthly rate, and access then depends on how many credits you spend.
Epic
What does Epic cost to join?+
Epic's entry price is $4.99, and the monthly Epic plan is $9.99. The entry figure is the cheapest way into the service, while the monthly plan figure is what a household carries for as long as it stays subscribed. Both figures are quoted in the same currency.
Is there a free trial on Epic?+
A free trial of 7 days comes with the subscription, so a family can test the catalogue and the family profiles before paying anything. On trial length Epic ranks 12 of 16 here, shorter than the category median of 30 days.